The climate challenge - 101 solutions to global warming

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Guy Dauncey. The Climate Challenge: 101 solutions to global warming. New Society Publishers. Gabriola Island. 2009.

Humans are motivated by syntropic dreams of life and wholeness, not by entropic nightmares of death and collapse.

Read this book with Drawdown.

Part of the Solutions Project, this book outlines specific actions that you can do to adapt to and reduce your impact on climate based on knowledge and conditions in 2009. The first section recaps the challenge, explores futures in aspects of society and resources. The rest of the book describes ways people can help address climate impacts, grouped into the following strategies:

  • for individuals - 10 ways to help
  • for champions - 10 ways to help
  • for communities - 10 ways to help
  • for businesses - 10 ways to help
  • for farmers - 5 ways to help
  • for transportation - 5 ways to help
  • for energy companies - 10 ways to help
  • for governments - 25 ways to help
  • for "developing" nations - 5 ways to help
  • for global action - 10 solutions
  • for all humans - 1 solution ("don't sit this one out")

Each section explains the strategy and covers direct resource citations (with web links) and the book includes a wealth of endnotes to help you.

Along with the usual recommendations, you will find particularly engaging actions in the sections for

  • governments (8 of the 25)

    • invest in climate-friendly future
    • supergrid
    • zero-carbon buildings
    • food and farming
    • sustainable vehicles
    • green new deal
    • zero-waste economy
    • green-collar economy

  • communities (2 of the 10)

    • build resilience
    • grow more food

  • champions (4 of the 10)

    • encourage others
    • take initiative
    • become political
    • build movements

  • farmers (4 of the 5)

    • carbon farming (restoring soil carbon, an undervalued essential component of soil)
    • organic farming
    • green ranching
    • energy farming

You might find the actions for business and transportation surprising. The author has collected specific recommendations for key business and transportation sectors.

Including

  • architects
  • foresters
  • media
  • finance
  • retail
  • manufacturing
  • aviation
  • ports and shipping
  • trucking

Global actions include

  • Restore a climate-friendly world
    • reach zero emissions by 2030 to 2040
    • restore atmospheric carbon dioxide to 280 ppm
    • awaken the world to the danger we are in
    • inspire people with a positive vision of victory looks like
    • organize as if our lives depend on it
  • Establish a global climate fund
  • Protect the world's remaining forest and grassland
  • Decarbonize global finance and stop subsidizing fossil fuel industry
  • Adopt natural capitalism to integrate nature into capitalism
  • Build a global movement

Example - Solution 65: Inspire people

  • Fossil fuels have been amazing
  • The age of fossil fuels is almost over (likely between 2010 and 2030)
  • Climate change is Gaia's message, saying "Time's Up!"
  • A climate-friendly world is do-able, desirable and will generate a gazillion new jobs
  • The future needs YOU!